A brief note to recognise how important Matthew Hatton’s recent victory on the Hatton v Urango undercard could prove to be. The younger, bigger Hatton slogged away unspectacularly on the undercards of his illustrious sibling for a number of years without ever announcing himself as a talent in his own right, but a change could be on the horizon. Continue reading “Shadow Boxing: Matthew Hatton Emerges” →

According to www.boxingtimes.comthe British title fight between champion Scott Gammer and Danny Williams will available over the Internet for a price starting at $16.99. An interesting move, and yet another example of the inevitable move toward integrated coverage of the sport. What next, hover-boards?

Barry Hearn, head of Matchroom, and the promoter.. Continue reading “Williams v Gammer: Live on the Web” →

Billy Graham, the long-time trainer of Ricky Hatton, today claimed that the British public will one day accept Hatton as the greatest fighter to ever have emerged from the United Kingdom. It seems an ambitious claim given the mediocrity of his recent encounters but considering the achievements of the previous champions from these shores, it isn’t impossible to believe he could succeed in fulfilling that prediction. Continue reading “Hatton Britain’s Greatest?” →

Reported everywhere today, so why should this little hideaway be any different, the news that Ricky Hatton is to face veteran – and its noticeable how many media outlets refer to him as veteran since his narrow victory and lacklustre performance last time out – Mexican, Jose Luis Castillo in a fight few fans will want to miss. Continue reading “Hatton Faces Castillo on June 23rd” →

I’ve written dozens of articles, fight reports, previews and message board comments on Audley Harrison in the past five years, his professional career running parallel to my own contributions as a boxing writer – if affording myself that title isn’t too much of an insult to the Putnam, Leibling and Mailers that precede me. In fact, I’ve compounded the crime – mentioning their names close to mine – but hopefully they’ll excuse the indulgence. Continue reading “Poleaxed. The Audley Charade Ends” →

Graham Earl, the former British Lightweight champion and present custodian of the WBU Lightweight belt, a strap that enables non-elite fighters like Earl to masquerade as World Champions –  Something the Luton fighter is clearly not – will contest the WBO version this week.  Of course, Earl will tell you he understands the charade and that he doesn’t truly regard himself as a world champion because of his success in WBU title fights, a perspective that only beggars the question – why bother? Continue reading “Earl Seeking to Earn Respect” →

Relax, the nearly man of the golden heavyweight era of the 1970’s isn’t returning to the professional ring, though he still cuts a fearsome figure at the age of 62, but will be  – according to the British tabloid, The Daily Mirror – competing in an evening of White Collar Boxing in Tranmere. Continue reading “From Big Acorns: Earnie Shavers Lacing Up Again” →

Audley Harrison takes another belated step on the path to heavyweight glory this weekend when he faces Reading’s quiet man Michael Sprott. The two fighter’s careers a study in opposites. For Audley, the toast of the domestic and international scenes for almost five years following his surprise Olympic victory, this represents another meaningful hurdle – for Sprott, a fighter forced to earn a crust around the rings of Europe, this represents a major opportunity to establish himself as a legitimate contender at the higher level.

Continue reading “A Clash of Opposites: Audley faces Sprott” →

Margate’s Welterweight contender Mehrdud Takalobiagashi, widely known as Takaloo to save his adopted English countryman struggling with his Iranian pronunciation, appeared in court over alleged benefit fraud alongside his wife, Sarah. Continue reading “Takaloo in Embarassing Benefit Fraud” →

The most predictable story of the year so far; Ricky Hatton vacates the belt he won for the second time against Colombian hulk Juan Urango, preferring to face Jose Luis Castillo than mandatory challenger Lovemore N’Dou. Continue reading “Shock News: Hatton Vacates” →

Never the shy retiring type, Lovemore N’Dou has gone public on his frustration at Ricky Hatton’s decision to face Mexican Jose Luis Castillo in June rather than honour his mandatory obligation. N’Dou, who beat countryman Ben Rabah to secure mandated status, is a veteran of the PR game and an irrepressible voice in the Light-Welterweight division. Continue reading “Hatton, N’Dou and the IBF” →

In the boxing backwater of Gloucestershire, Ovill McKenzie and Dean Francis clash this weekend for McKenzie’s Commonwealth title and the bout represents a major achievement for both fighters. Francis, for whom much was once expected, contesting a significant title following the injuries to his right arm that twice convinced him to retire only to return is prize enough. The fiercely competitive 33 year old will want, and expect to go one further and win of course despite relying almost exclusively on the left hand for much of the eight years since the dislocation against Undra White. Continue reading “Real Life Rockys Go Head to Head: Francis & McKenzie” →

On whichever criteria IBF Light-Heavyweight champion Clinton Woods’ career is assessed it is impossible not to congratulate his perserverence and willingness to tackle the best the division has to offer. Defending the title he secured beating game young puncher Rico Hoye against challengers as capable and ambitious as Gonzales and Johnson illustrate this zest for genuine competition.

In this era of avoiding fellow contenders he is to be applauded for this willingness. Continue reading “Tarver or Jones Next for Clinton Woods?” →